Dive· Apo Reef (Apo Island, Occidental Mindoro)· Philippines
Apo Reef Natural Park
12° 39.7′ N · 120° 24.9′ E
The Philippines' largest contiguous coral reef system: about 34 sq km of reef, lagoons and three islets in the middle of Mindoro Strait, protected as a no-take natural park since 2007 and on the UNESCO tentative list - walls to 70 m, whitetip, blacktip and grey reef sharks, turtles, Napoleon wrasse and mantas in 30-40 m visibility.
Practical
Wikipedia position 12 39 42N 120 24 52E (Apo Island). About 28 km west of mainland Mindoro (Sablayan municipality); 2-3 hours by bangka from Sablayan, about 90 minutes from Pandan Island. Two atoll-like lagoons: the shallow north lagoon (2-10 m, partly dry at low tide) and the 30 m south lagoon; a 1.8-30 m white-sand channel between the north and south reefs (Wikipedia). Named sites: Shark Ridge, Shark Airport (sand step 18-27 m with many whitetips), North Wall (best with current running), South Corner, Ego Wall, Mabuti Wall, Corde Point, Apo 29 (seamount, reef top near 30 m, advanced/nitrox), Binangaan Drop-off and an old unidentified wreck (about 12 m) (Diverbliss 2019; Divernet; Pandan factsheet also lists Aladin Wall and South East Corner). West-side walls carry strong drift currents. Season: diving trips run December to June (Pandan); best November-May. Fees: see 'Apo Reef Entry Permits and Fees'. No fishing of any kind. Liveaboards also run here from Puerto Galera.
Best for
Remote, pristine wall and shark diving
Season
Dec-Jun (operator trips); calmest Mar-May
Nearby
- Apo Reef LighthouseRight here
- Apo Island Mangrove Lagoon Boardwalk0.1 NM away
- Apo Island Reef Flat Snorkel (Ranger Station)0.2 NM away
- Apo Reef Anchorage and Ranger Station0.4 NM away
- Apo Menor (Binangaan) Island1.6 NM away
- Apo Reef North Lagoon Snorkel (Cayos del Bajo)4.6 NM away
- Nanga Islands Anchorage21 NM away
- Pandan Island Anchorage (Sablayan)22.9 NM away